Denver abandons alcohol ban for Wash Park, but other measures are on the way

Mercedes Gray, center, and friends enjoyed alcoholic beverages at Washington Park Wednesday afternoon, April 9, 2014. They said they have all signed an electronic petition opposing the plan of a city councilman who wants to prohibit drinking beer at the park. (Photo by Karl Gehring/The Denver Post)

A total alcohol ban for Washington Park is off the table, for now, but Denver parks officials and police plan to issue more citations and clamp down on misbehavior in other ways starting Memorial Day weekend.

Users of one of the city’ s largest and most popular parks will still be allowed to consume 3.2 percent beer under the decision, confirmed to The Denver Post on Tuesday by Denver Parks and Recreation spokesman Jeff Green. The decision ends a discussion set off by City Councilman Chris Nevitt’s suggestion of a full alcohol ban in a letter to parks officials on March 13.

Among the measures that will be coming are a “drop-in” permit system for volleyball and other organized activities on weekends and holidays, another attempt to increase enforcement and making bathrooms available for extended hours.

“This has been a joint effort to solve a variety of pressing issues,” Mayor Michael Hancock said in a statement provided by Green. “We are committed to delivering a better experience for all of Denver’s residents who enjoy Washington Park’s amenities as well as for our residents who live next door to the park.”

Nevitt had cited Washington Park neighbors’ complaints about public drunkenness and other nuisance problems in pushing for the alcohol ban. In recent years, increased enforcement efforts had failed to alleviate those problems.

Nevitt’s idea for zero tolerance for alcohol at the park initially was met with a furor from many park users. They argued that lax enforcement was the issue, since visitors who caused problems often were consuming more potent liquor that already was outlawed on all park property.

But Nevitt told The Post that discussions between organized park users and park neighbors have been constructive since a public meeting on the issue earlier this month. He said he was heartened that people from both groups have pledged to help remind users of the rules, both at the park and via a social media campaign.

Hancock joined the fray, agreeing to a limited uptick in resources for the park to address several recurring issues, Nevitt said. Meanwhile, Councilman Charlie Brown, whose district contains the park — Nevitt’s is adjacent — weighed in against the alcohol ban. He also took part in city discussions.

“We’re going to give this a shot and see what happens,” Nevitt said.

Among the coming changes: the new permit, with an as-yet undetermined fee, that will be required for organized games, such as volleyball, that use a large amount of space on weekends and holidays. On weekdays, leagues that use the park already pay permit fees. Revenue from that fee will help offset the cost of assigning two full-time rangers to patrol the park on weekends and holidays, with a goal of issuing citations more often than warnings. Mounted police patrols also may be added to the mix on heavy-use days. The alcohol rules, including bans on alcohol other than 3.2 beer and glass containers, will be displayed more prominently on park signs.

To address other problems, park signs will direct Washington Park visitors to use free parking in the South High School lot rather than clogging neighborhood streets. And parks and rec will have portable toilets emptied more frequently each day, while keeping permanent restrooms — including at the Washington Park Recreation Center — open into the evening.

“It is clear that the activities and the sheer number of people gathering at Washington Park, especially on summer weekends, have increased dramatically over the past few years,” said Lauri Dannemiller, parks and rec’s executive director. “These new measures will, we hope, restore the quality experience that park-goers and residents should both expect.”

Some people get so territorial and hateful towards anyone who isn’t pious that they would want to wrap the entire park in bubble wrap for the children. It’s good that the bubbles are being popped to allow everyone to have the freedom to enjoy the parks.

John Steel

A permit fee for drop in volleyball? WTF! Screw you Denver – and Wash Park neighbors. Another wonderful institution ruined by Hipster scum.

reinhold23

Far be it from me to defend hipsters, but…. how exactly are hipsters responsible for this fee’s creation?

scottbutane

Good news: Chris Nitwit will soon be out of office (but not soon enough).

Tango Mike India

Well looks like it is time to find another park for vollyball. No way in hell am I going to pay to go to the Public Park.

Terri

I grew up in the Washington Park neighborhood and graduated from South High school. That was a long time ago, though. The park was very crowded back then but mostly by high school students. I won’t lie. We had an ornery streak, but we would never vandalize someone’s property. People relieving themselves on neighborhood lawns is disgusting. If the bathrooms are functioning properly and there are enough trash cans, that should solve the problem. It’s impossible to keep people out of the park. It’s a big park. There are some areas that attract the “hipsters” more than others. It’s not impossible to avoid them. I agree that charging a fee to play games is over the top and is unnecessary. I hope that Denver re-considers that idea.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.